Steam-actuated water-trap.



J. E. JONES.

STEAM AGTUATED WATER. TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, 1910.

Patented Jan. 31, 1911.

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J. E. JONES.

STEAM ABTUATED WATER TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7, 1910.

Patented Jan. 31, 1.911.

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JAMES E. JONES, 0F RICHMOND, INDIANA.

STEAM-ACTUATED WATER-TRAP.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 31, 1911.

Application filed February 7, 1910. Serial No. 542,395.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAnns E. Jones, a citizen of the United States,residing in Richmond, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, haveinvented a new and useful Steam Actuated Water- Trap, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, andv comprehensive exposition andspecification, being such as will enable others to make and use the samewith absolute exactitude.

It is a well known fact that in steam-heating plants, especially wherethere is a very long line of radiating pipes, as in greenhouses or thelike, that it takes considerable time for the pipes to heat to thedesired sufficiency, for the reason that there is cold, cool, or deadair in the pipes, and the back pressure from the boiler into the returnpipes is so great as to retard a rapid circulation. To relieve this backpressure and allow the free escape of the cold or dead air from thepipes, and at the same time trapping the condensation and returning itto the boiler under pressure, is the primal object of this invention.

Further objects of my invention, broadly stated, are to provide a steamactuated water trap for steam heating plants or the like, which will bepositive in action, strong and durable in construction, easily operatedand installed, adapted to allow the radiation to attain its maximum ofciiiciency in a mini mum of time, and which canbe manufactured and soldat a comparatively low price.

More particularly stated my object is to provide a trap for gatheringthe accumulating moisture in steam-pipes and delivering the same to theboiler, and that without retarding the circulation through the pipesfrom and to the boiler.

Another object is to provide means for establishing an uninterruptedcirculation of steam from and to the boiler, whereby the pipes will heat.in a minimum of time, and to provide for trapping the condensationswhich accumulates in the pipes and returning it to the boilerautomatically by means of the direct pressure of live steam through anauxiliary circuit intermittently established.

Other specific objects and particular advantages of the invention willbe brought out in the course of the following specification, and thatwhich is new will be correlated in the appended claims.

The preferred manner for carrying out the objects of my invention in apractical manner, and that which I have determined will be the mostmechanically efficient in practice is shown most clearly in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the trapproper, certain parts thereof being shown in section. Fig.2 is a centralsectional view taken through the shaft of the tipping-tank, same showinga cross section of the tipping-tank. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of thetrap as taken from the opposite side from that of Fig. 1, and showingthe tank tipped or turned, same being partly in section, as taken online 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. i is a top plan View, partly in section as takenon line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of thetrunnions. And Fig. 6 is a diagrammatical view of the entire system,showing my trap in its relative position in connection therewith.

Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several views.

In order that the construction and operation of my invention may befully understood I will now describe the several mechanical features andthe several operations thereof as briefly and as comprehensively as Imay.

Numeral 1 denotes the receiving tank or reservoir, which may be of anydesired. shape and capacity, depending on the simultaneous plant withwhich it is to be employed.

In Fig. 1 indices 2, 2, 2 and 2 denote portions of the returnsteam-pipe. Interposed between sections 2 and 2 is the check valve 3;and a short distance therefrom and interposed between sections 2 and 2is the check-valve 4. Said check-valves are substantially identical witheach other, each allowing passage therethro'ugh from left to right butpreventing passage in the reverse direction. Disposed between the saidcheckalves and connecting the sections 2 and 2 is the T-fitting 5.Secured in and extending up from said fitting 5 is the nipple 6 with itsupper end secured to and opening into the bottom of the tank 1, allsubstantially as shown in Fig. 1.

Mounted on top of the receiving tank 1 is the base-plate 7 which isrigidly secured to said tank by a plurality of bolts a. Extending downthrough said plate 7 and the top of the tank, are the two pipes 8 and 9,the former extending inside said tank 1 to near the bottom thereof, andthe latter terminating some little distance, above the pipe 8; both ofsaid pipes being open at their lower ends as indicated.

Mounted on top of plate 7 are the two oppositely disposed abutments and11, each of which has a channel-way formed therein, same being denotedby letters 6 and 0, re-

' spectively, and which connect with the upper ends of the respectivepipes 8 and 9, as indicated in Fig. 2.

Mounted in the oppositely disposed and spaced apart faces of theupwardly extending portions of the abutments 10 and 11 are the trunnions12 and 13, which are identical with each other, one of which is shown inFig. 5. The interiors of said trunnions connect with the respectivechannels I) and 0. Mounted in, carried by, and extending between andinto said trunnions is the shaft 14., which is adapted to oscillatetherein. Said trunnions also complete the packing-boxes for said shaft14, they being seated on resilient packing, and they are adapted to beadjustably secured and held against the packing each by means of a pairof bolts gg and /2 h, respectively. Said bolts being disposed throughthe wings of said trunnions and through corresponding ears of theabutments 10 and 11, as indicated. The interior of said shaft 14 ishollow, except for a central partition therein which divides theinterior of the shaft 1 1 into two chambers (Z and e,the formerconnecting with channel 5, and the latter connecting with channel 0, allsubstantially as shown in Fig. 2.

Numeral 15 denotes the tippingtank, which is of comparatively small sizecompared with said tank 1. Said tank 15, when empty, is adapted toassume the position shown in Fig. 1, and when containing a predeterminedamount of water it automatically assumes the position shown in Fig. 3.The means by which said operations of the tipping-tank may beaccomplished, and the function thereof, will be brought out as thisdescription proceeds.

Connected with the shaft 14 and communicating with chamber (Z is thepipe 16 which is connected to the underside of the rear por tion oftipping-tank by means of the angular fitting 17, thereby completing theinterior communication between the receivingtank and the tipping-tank.

Connected with the shaft lat and communicating with the chamber 6thereof is the pipe 18, which in connection with the ells A, A", theshort sections of pipe B, B, B

' and B; the union C, and the T-fitting D,

extends forward, upward, and then inward, wlththe pipe B entering theforward end of the tipping-tank near the top thereof, thereby completingthe second circuit from the receiving-tank to the tipping-tank, as shownmost clearly in Fig. 3.

Extending upward from the T-fitting D is the exhaust pipe 19, on theupper end of which is the swing-check valve 20, which forms a ventparticularly for the tank 15.

Interposed in and extending out from pipe 19 is a globevalve 21, whichis directly above and in alinement with the globe-valve 22, the latterhaving an entrance into the front end of the lower part of thetippingtank by means of the nipple 38, which latter is directly belowthe pipe or nipple B. The two globe-valves, 21 and 22, which are handoperative, are connected by the glass tube 23, by means of which theheight of the water in the tank 15 may be determined.

Opening into the top of tank 1, through the base-plate 7, is theaperture f, as shown in Figs. 3 and at. Fitted in said aperture f is theell 2a, in which is fitted the horizontally disposed section of pipe 25,which latter has on its outer end the ell 26. The fitting 26 issurmounted by the T- fitting 27, and extending upwardly from saidfitting 27 is the pipe 28, the latter having the ell fitting 29 attachedon its upper end. Mounted horizontally to the ell 29 is the'ilunger-valve 30, which forms a vent, primarily, for the tank 1. Saidvalve 30 is provided with the downwardly extending plunger stem E, samehaving a head formed on its lower end. Secured in the fitting is thehorizontally disposed plunger-valve 31, which is similar to the valve30, except that the stem, F, thereof is directed upwardly opposite toand in alinement with the stem E. Said stem F is provided with a headformed on its upper end as shown.

Disposed between the heads of the stems E and F is a helical springwhose tension is such as to normally press said plunger stems apart,that is inwardly, and thereby closing both valves 30 and 31.

Numeral 33 denotes the live steam pipe, one end thereof being secured inthe valve 31 and the other end being connected directly to the boilerand carrying high pressure steam therein.

Extending up from the shaft 14: is the flange 3a, to which is securedthe adjust ingbar 34:, on which bar is slidably mounted the adjustingweight Said bar 3% being located parallel with the tank 15 and itextends a considerable distance forward thereof. By means of said weightthe tip ping of said tank 15 may be predetermined in order that it maytip when a desired amount of water has accumulated therein.

Rigidly secured to the bar 34, and extending out to one side thereof, isthe arm 36 (Fig. Pivoted to and extending up 1 from the arm 36 is thebar 37, said bar being located parallel with and a slight distance fromthe stems E and F. Said bar 37 is provided with two fingers 37 and 37through which the respective stems E and F may freely operate, being soarranged that when said fingers are raised to their limit it will resultin opening the valve 81 and closing valve 30, that is by rais ing thestem F and withdrawing the valve plunger from its seat in valve 31, andat same time closing the valve plunger on its seat in valve 30; andconversely, when said fingers are lowered to their limit it will resultin closing said valve 31, also in open ing valve 30.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 6 where there is shown a completeheating system employing my invention: Numeral 50 denotes a steamboiler, with the supply steam pipe 51 leading therefrom and entering thepressure reducing valve 52. Passing from the valve 52 is the conveyingpipe which leads tothe radiator 5st. EX- tending from the radiator isthe pipe 2 which enters the check-valve- 3 as above set forth. The pipe33, above referred to, returns to the boiler 50 and it is adapted tosupply steam direct to the trap and that under high pressure whereby thepressure in the boiler and that in the tanks 1 and 15 may be equalizedand counterbalanced at certain intervals.

Operation: In practice the several parts are preferably located,relatively, as that shown in Fig. 6, from which it is apparent that assteam is developed in the boiler it will pass through the valve 52,which will reduce the pressure to the desired sufiiciency. The steamwill then pass on to the radiator 54, after which it will be practicallytransformed into water which, manifestly, will gravitate down, and if.there were no pres sure in the boiler it would pass through valves 3 and4t. and be deposited in the boiler, but in fact as the pressure in theboiler is greater than it is in the pipe 2 it is evident that the boilerpressure will close valve 4, thereby allowing only one other dispositionof the water, that is to pass up into the tank 1, which is accomplishedmerely by gravity, same being possible by reason of the air exitsthrough the valves 20 and 30 which are both open at this time, thereforethere will be no resistance offered to the return pressure or to thewater. It should be understood, at this point, that when there is nowater in the trap that the weight 35 will be such as to cause the tank15 to stand horizontal, as in Fig. 1, thereby closing valve 31 andopening valve 30, and retaining the latter open until the tank istipped.

By means of my construction the steam will be allowed to more quicklymake the circuit, for the reason that the cool air in the pipes and theradiators will be forced ahead, passing the valve 3, and by reason ofleast resistance will pass up through pipe 6 into the tank 1, thenthrough the various avenues to the atmosphere by way of the valves 20 or30, thus allowing an uninterrupted vent for the cold, cool, or dead air,but at same time the water which has condensed from the steam will betrapped, first filling the tank 1, and as it rises entering the tank 15rising therein, and, if there was no movement of the tank 15 the waterwould fill the tank 15 and finally flow out of the valves 20 and 30,however, when the water has accumulated in tank 15 to a certain heightthen the weight 35 will be overbalanced by the weight of the water inthe tank 15, resulting in causing the tank 15 to tip to the positionshown in Fig. 3. The tipping or turning of tank 15 to the position shownin Fig. 3 will manifestly result in lifting the bar 37, thereby causingthe fingers 37 and 37 to lift the stems E and F resulting,simultaneously, in closing valve 30 and in opening valve 31. The inrushof steam under high pressure will close the swingingvalve 20. Thereforethe high pressure steam and the tipping of tank 15 will result first inclosing the two exits 20 and 80, thereby shutting oif these avenues forits escape, thereby causing it to pass into tank 1 and thus equalizingthe pressure in tank 1 with the pressure in the boiler, and therefore asthere will then be no back pressure on valve 4 it will allow the waterin tank 1 to gravitate through valve fk back to the boiler withoutresistance. It is now ap parent that as the valves 20 and 30 are closedthat there is no way for the Water to get out of tank 15 except throughthe pipes 8 and 9, and as the lower ends of said pipes are closed by thewater in tank 1 it is evident that the water will remain stationary intank 15 until the Water in tank 1 has been lowered below the lower endof pipe 9, thereby causing the tank 15 to remain tipped until tank 1 hasbeen practically emptied. Now when the water has receded in tank 1 to apoint below the lower end of pipe 9 then, it is evident that ventagewill be given to tank 15 through pipe 9 and allow the water to gravitatetherefrom through pipe 8 into tank 1. As soon as the water has recededfrom tank 15 enough to influence the weight 35 then said weight willcause the ank 15 to turn back to its normal position, as in Fig. 1,thereby resulting in closing valve 31 and shutting off the high pressuresteam, at same time opening valve 30, which will allow the high pressureto escape from tanks 1 and 15; allow the valve 20 to swing open, as soonas the pressure is reduced; and at same time the back pressure from theboiler will close valve 4. The several movements last stated will, it isevident, again place the mechanism as in Fig. 1 and allow the device tooperate as before in the collec tion of water.

The above mentioned operations will follow each other automatically inprogressive succession, thereby allowing the radiating pipes to heatrapidly, by reason of the free vent through the valves 20 and 30, inplace of the steam having to force its way along against the backpressure from the boiler.

I would have it understood that the crux of this invention liesparticularly in the two propositions: (a) that the tipping-tankabsolutely controls the entrance and the exit of water to and from thereceiving-tank; and (b) that the body of water which causes the tippingtank to actuate remains therein until the receiving tank is practicallyemptied.

Having now fully shown and described my invention and its operation,what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis 1. In a system of the kind described a stationary tank having a waterinlet and a water outlet and also having a steam inlet and a valve forcontrolling said steam inlet, a movable tank connected to said valve foroperating the same to admit steam to the stationary tank and force thewater therefrom, means for conducting water from the stationary tank tothe movable tank to actuate the latter, means for conducting steam fromthe stationary tank to the movable tank to force the Water therefrom,the inlet to said last named means being so positioned that steam cannot enter the same until the level of Water in the stationary tank hasreached a predetermined point.

2. In a system of the kind described comprising, in combination with aboiler, a receiving tank having a water inlet and a water outlet andalso having a steam inlet and a valve for controlling said steam inlet,a tipping tank connected to said valve for operating the same to admitsteam to the receiving tank and allow the water to gravitate therefrominto the boiler, means for conducting water from the receiving tank tothe tipping tank to actuate the latter, means for conducting steam fromthe receiving tank to the tipping tank to allow the water to gravitatetherefrom, the inlet to said last named means being so positioned thatsteam can not enter the same until the surface of the water in thereceiving tank has reached a predetermined level.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES E. JONES.

\Vitnesses ROBERT RANDLE, R. E. RANDLE.

